Lexington (officially Lexington-Fayette Urban County) is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 66th largest in the United States. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World," it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region. In 2007 the city's population was estimated at 279,044 anchoring a metropolitan area of 447,162 people and a Combined Statistical Area of 658,143 people.
Lexington ranks 10th among US cities in college education rate, with 39.5% of residents having at least a Bachelor's Degree. It is home to the headquarters of Lexmark International, the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland race course, Red Mile race course, Transylvania University, and the University of Kentucky.
Lexington, which includes all Fayette County consists of 285.5 square miles (739.4 km2), mostly gently rolling plateau, in the center of the inner Bluegrass Region. The area is noted for its beauty, fertile soil, excellent pastureland, and horse and stock farms. Poa pratensis (bluegrass) thrives on the limestone beneath the soil's surface, playing a major role in the area's scenic beauty and in the development of champion horses. Numerous small creeks rise and flow into the Kentucky River. The Lexington-Fayette Metro area is home to 5 counties that make up the metro area. These counties include: Clark, Jessamine,Bourbon, Woodford, and Scott. This is the 2nd largest metro area in the Ohio Valley and in Kentucky. |
